Edwin James Brady, journalist and writer, was born on 7 August 1869 at Carcoar, New South Wales, son of Irish parents, Edward John Brady, mounted police constable, and his wife Hannah, née Kenny. His father had migrated first to the United States of America where he had fought in the civil war. Brady was educated at Oberon Public School, then in Washington D.C. where his family settled in 1881. Homesick they returned to Sydney next year, and Brady went to two Catholic schools, then in 1884 passed the junior public examination from St Patrick's Boys' School. He worked on the Ben Buckler sewer and matriculated, but only attended a few evening lectures at the University of... more »

Lost And Given Over

A Mermaid’s not a human thing, An’ courtin’ such is folly; Of flesh an’ blood I’d rather sing, What ain’t so melancholy. Oh, Berta! Loo! Jaunita! Sue! Here’s good luck to me and you— Sing rally! ri-a-rally! The seas is deep; the seas is wide; But this I’ll prove whate’er betide, I’m bully in the alley! I’m bull-ee in our al-lee!

The Hooghli gal’er face is brown; The Hilo gal is lazy; The gal that lives by ’Obart town She’d drive a dead man crazy; Come, wet your lip, and let it slip! ...